Illinois: New day, new lawmakers, new pension plan

Illinois legislators failed to deliver a solution Tuesday to a gaping, $96 billion pension deficit, but as a new General Assembly takes the oath Wednesday, they will try again with fresh legislation and new vigor.

After a weekend of revived talks that hinted at progress, the House failed to even vote on a proposed pension solution Tuesday night. The reasons are as varied as the geography of Illinois, from the Mississippi River hills of East Dubuque to the Ohio River lowlands of Old Shawneetown.

"It would be great if we had one thing we could focus on and get it corrected, but that's not the way this works," said Rep. Elaine Nekritz, D-Northbrook, the sponsor of the last, best House effort to close the funding gap with greater contributions from state employees and less-generous retirement benefits, among other provisions.

Lawmakers representing large numbers of state employees worry about cutting benefits. Democrats with ties to strong unions fear backlash. Republicans believe defined-benefit pensions should be dumped for 401(k)-style plans.

Nekritz's legislation, however, had buy-in from House Republican Leader Tom Cross of Oswego, the lawmaker Democrats have blamed since May for holding up a solution. Gov. Pat Quinn convinced powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan to allow consideration of a bill that excluded, for now, shifting any teacher-pension costs to local school districts, which Cross opposed.

Despite his efforts, the Democratic governor suffered the greatest, having set up the must-do Jan. 9 finish line but breaking the tape empty-handed. In a last-ditch effort that opponents called desperate, Quinn pulled out legislation creating an independent commission to make necessary pension changes - but even that failed to get a House roll call.

"It's scary going forward because the only other alternative is an additional tax increase, and everyone in the state should be worried about that," said Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno of Lemont.

Not so fast, say Democrats. Nekritz and her allies claim progress and will introduce fresh legislation similar to their abandoned plan after being sworn in to new terms. Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said he will again offer a version of his proposal, which he says is the only constitutional idea in the building because it doesn't take away promised benefits without offering recipients choices.

Missing Quinn's deadline - not his first that has passed without action - will mean bond rating agencies will downgrade Illinois' credit as early as Wednesday, according to the governor. He told lawmakers that without action, the state's credit worthiness is in "dire jeopardy."

"Public pension reform is absolutely necessary if Illinois is going to have sound financial footing once and for all," Quinn said early Tuesday.

Wednesday will be filled with pomp and patriotic bunting; lawmakers wearing corsages will take oaths, accept congratulatory hugs from parents, spouses and children, and snack on cookies and punch.

There will be little to remind anyone of the lame-duck session that began a week earlier with sky-high expectations of sending Quinn bills not only to reform pensions, but also to legalize gay marriage and put restrictions on assault weapons and their fast-feeding ammunition devices.